Loggins, Messina Reuniting for Summer Tour

04/24/2005 10:20 AM, Reuters
Ray Waddell

Kenny Loggins) and Jim Messina) will embark on their first tour as a duo in nearly 30 years with the Loggins & Messina Sittin' in Again Reunion Tour.

The outing has about 40 dates on the books, beginning June 24 at the Idaho Center in Boise. The route includes arenas, amphitheaters, casinos and other venues.

In conjunction with the tour, Columbia/Legacy will on May 24 release "The Best: Loggins & Messina Sittin' in Again," featuring such hits as "Your Mama Don't Dance," "Danny's Song" and "Angry Eyes."

After eight successful albums together between 1972 and 1977, including two live sets, the duo went their separate ways, touring for the last time in 1976. Messina says he and Loggins had reservations about embarking on a full-blown tour, but found that old wounds had healed.

"One of the sore spots was, I have a tremendous amount of respect for Kenny and his incredible voice, and part of the problem was not thinking I could live up to that," Messina told Billboard. "And, not to speak for Kenny, but I found out he experienced the same thing with me and my instrumentation."

A benefit show last year at the Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara, Calif., was the catalyst for the tour.

"Things just sort of flowed together," recalled Loggins. "I'd been playing a lot of these songs, like 'Danny's Song' and 'House at Pooh Corner' alone for years, and when Jimmy came in, I remembered who we were. Something magic happens when the two of us sing together."

The artists will perform their hits together and solo, and a special "sittin' in" segment will feature special guests in some markets. "If we're in Nashville and Michael McDonald is free, or Rusty Young, or Clint Black, we hope they can get on stage and sit in," said Messina.

Reuters/Billboard